So we're starting to get deep into the college basketball season, and in the midst of a wild two months of hoops, it's time to hand out some awards for the best ... and worst ... of the early season.
BEST TEAM: Memphis
Believe me, it's not easy to pick a team that's not in a major conference and label them as the best team in America at any point of the season. However, Memphis has faced a tough non-conference slate and is standing unscathed as of today. The only game they've been seriously challenged was against USC (a 62-58 win), and most importantly, they've won games playing up-tempo and by playing half-court basketball. When you have a team that can win at various styles, you've got yourself a national title contender.
BEST PLAYER: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Yeah, yeah, he's a media darling. But you know what? He's earned the hype so far. He's the targeted player every time he takes the floor, yet he still is averaging 21.7 points and 9.7 rebounds a game for the Tar Heels.
BEST UPSET: Mercer 96, USC 81
I debated this one at length, especially when you think about fellow Atlantic Sun teams like Gardner-Webb, who shocked Kentucky at Rupp Arena, or Belmont, who stunned another SEC team in Alabama. However, USC, a team with high hopes, sits at 8-3 right now with wins over Oklahoma and losses to Kansas, Memphis ... and Mercer? The Bears surprisingly easy rout of the Trojans in Los Angeles has to stand out as one of the most impressive David over Goliath wins of the season.
COACH ON THE RISE: Kemo Davis, Drake
That's right, I said Drake. The small Missouri Valley team has raced to a 9-1 mark as of this writing, including wins over Iowa State and Iowa this season. Drake has proven to be the best team in the Hawkeye State, having won their last seven against in-state opponents (Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa). Davis, the son of Dr. Tom Davis of Iowa fame, has the pedigree and coaching experience at an early age to be very successful, and it's showing already. The Bulldogs have Cinderella written all over them this March.
And while I'm at it, let's give credit to Scott Drew at Baylor, who stepped into the giant mess that Dave Bliss left behind and has turned BU into a 9-1 team, including a solid win against South Carolina and a near-upset of Washington State. Also, you can't count out Andy Kennedy at Ole Miss, who's 10-0 with wins over Clemson and DePaul. Cincinnati has got to be regretting letting Kennedy get out of their grasp and down to Oxford.
BEST FRESHMAN: Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Beasley's averaging a meager 26.3 points and 14 rebounds a game. He's shooting 40.7 percent from behind the arc, and also averages two blocks a game, leading the team in all categories mentioned. The Wildcats are 8-3 as of this writing, but would they even have a winning record without Beasley on the floor? Seriously, where would they be without this guy? That's what Frank Martin will have to figure out next year in Manhattan.
Honorable mention goes to fellow Big 12 freshman superstar James Anderson, who's averaging 17.2 points a game for Oklahoma State.
BEST GAME: Pitt 65, Duke 64 (OT)
That game was more of a March Madness classic than a December battle. That was blood, sweat, tears, and all that is good about college hoops. Both teams left it all out on the court, and in the end, the Panthers had one more shot. The hope of everyone is that there will be a rematch sometime during the NCAA tournament, which, if it happens, might be in San Antonio.
BIGGEST EARLY COLLAPSE: Kentucky
As if there was any other team that could fit in this slot. Big Blue is in shock and awe right now, as the honeymoon for Billy Clyde Gillispie has ended, being replaced by a pretty warm seat right now. One can shrug off the losses to North Carolina and Indiana, but losing to Gardner-Webb, UAB, and Houston has fans in the Bluegrass State beside themselves, wondering what is going on at UK. Who'd have ever thought that Wildcat fans would be glad for football?
WORST COACHING JOB: Billy Gillispie, Kentucky
Granted, this could change in a hurry. Gillispie is by no means a bad coach. However, Kentucky doesn't shell out the big bucks to see their basketball team sit at 5-5. I think it'll take some time for the Wildcats to adjust to Gillispie's scheme. Where's Acie Law when you need him?
WORST GAME: Duke 121, NC Central 56
Duke played in the best game ... and worst game, of the season. Yawwwwwwwwwwn. Even at Cameron Indoor, this game had to be a total snoozefest. These two teams shouldn't play again until 2020, unless you count it as an exhibition.
December 26, 2007
Marc:
As a Kentucky fan, let me comment on your criticism of Gillespie. He has made some mistakes, but I don’t blame his so-called bad coaching on the Wildcats’ woes. You neglected to mention that Kentucky is missing TWO starters in Jodie Meeks and point guard Derrick Jasper. And star Patrick Patterson was injured for the Houston game, thus the loss. Injuries are why there’s been a short bench. Also, Billy doesn’t play a slow-down style, especially compared to Tubby’s slow style. Change doesn’t happen overnight and short-term hardship will be worth it when Kentucky is competing for championships in a few years.
Tubby didn’t run the program down a cliff, but he led them right to the cliff and left. He’s a great man and solid coach, but there is no doubt he led UK on a steady downward slope since taking over. Billy G is an ace recruiter and the future is brighter with him.
December 28, 2007
Eric (doublee):
I’ll echo Marc’s sentiments on Gillespie. In my mind it is awful short-sighted to bag on a first year coach simply because he is having to field a team with players he had no hand in recruiting. Aside from Patterson these are Tubby’s guys and do not necessarily fit into the type of system that Gillespie likes to run. Since he probably was not recruiting any of these guys at A&M he probably knew little about them when he took the job.
I have always been one to say that a college coach deserves three or four years to get his system and his players in place before we should start in with the criticism.